The side-by-side GE Monogram ZFSB26DR has a temperature-controlled compartment for faster chilling or thawing. The feature is just one of many conveniences that manufacturers are loading into refrigerators these days.

Features once found only on midlevel and high-end refrigerators are showing up on less-expensive models.

Evidence of this trickle-down effect includes water filters that remove “off” tastes, and temperature-control bins that keep food fresh. Even stainless exteriors are coming down in price: Some refrigerators that Consumer Reports recently rated offer the look for as little as $725.

Before you plunk down cold cash on your next icebox, take a minute to consider what type of fridge best fits your space, needs and budget:

¢ Top-freezer. With a typical width of 30 to 33 inches, these are best for narrower spaces. Starting at just $400, top-freezer models also cost the least of any type, are relatively inexpensive to run and offer the most storage space for their size. On the downside, you must bend to reach items that you use frequently, and few models offer a water dispenser. The wide-swinging doors require space for clearance.

¢ Bottom-freezer. Increasingly common in kitchens, these models place often-used items at eye level. One drawback with these models is that you must stoop to reach food at the back or bottom of the freezer, and few have an ice-and-water dispenser on the door. Prices start at $700 for basic bottom-freezers, and can run to $1,800 for models with French doors. Widths are from 30 to 36 inches.

¢ Side-by-side. These are a good choice for kitchens that can’t accommodate wide-swinging doors. While most side-by-sides offer exterior ice-and-water dispensers, their shelves are narrow and they aren’t very space efficient. Plus, side-by-sides have been more repair prone than top- or bottom-freezers – according to survey data collected from CR readers – and they’re relatively pricey. You can expect to pay from $800 to $2,000 for models that vary from 32 to 36 inches in width.

¢ Built-in. These models blend in with cabinetry for a unified look, often with the aid of trim panels. They can be either bottom-freezers or side-by-sides, and some come with French doors. True built-in models cost from $4,000 to $7,000; cabinet-depth models in the built-in style run from $1,500 to $3,200. Most are 36 inches wide or wider. Like side-by-sides, built-ins are repair prone.

All but a handful of the 74 refrigerators CR rated did very well overall in tests measuring temperature performance and energy efficiency. Several stood out for their value, earning them distinction as CR Best Buys.

Among top-freezer fridges, CR liked the Hotpoint HTS22GBP (33 inches wide; $700). Bottom-freezer models that made the CR Best Buy grade are the Amana ABB1921DE (30 inches; $850), the French-door-equipped Amana AFD2535DE (36 inches; $1,700) and the Kenmore 7500 (30 inches; $870, from Sears). Side-by-side models that combined notable performance with comparatively low price are the Amana ASD2627KE (36 inches; $1,350) and the GE GSH25JFT (36 inches; $1,100). Both come with a water dispenser and are available in stainless finish.

While none of the tested built-ins qualified as CR Best Buys, the GE Monogram ZICS360NR (37 inches; $6,400), the French-door-equipped KitchenAid KBFC42F (43 inches; $6,800) and the Sub-Zero 650F (37 inches; $5,700) were top-scoring bottom-freezer models. The Jenn-Air JS42FWD (42 inches; $4,650) is a comparatively low-priced side-by-side.